Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
-
Review Case Reports
Treatment of Acute Intermittent Porphyria in the Emergency Department.
-
Comparative Study
The Impact of Prehospital 12-Lead Electrocardiograms on Door-to-Balloon Time in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.
Multiple strategies have been implemented to reduce door-to-balloon times. The purpose of this study was to compare door-to-balloon times between ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who arrived at the emergency department by ambulance with a pre-hospital electrocardiogram (ECG), to those who self-transported and had an ECG on ED arrival. ⋯ Door-to-balloon times can be reduced when chest pain patients are transported to the emergency department by ambulance. The paramedics are equipped to perform an ECG, thereby making a preliminary diagnosis of STEMI. The emergency department can them prepare for potential angioplasty or percutaneous coronary intervention. An opportunity exists for emergency nurses to educate the public about the importance of calling 911 for chest pain.
-
Patients with chronic pain who frequent emergency departments present a challenge to health care providers. Mental health, substance abuse, and pain issues are difficult to distinguish in fast-paced clinical settings, and significant symptoms may remain unaddressed. This pilot study sought to determine whether electronically delivered screening tools measuring pain and mood could identify areas to target for improving emergency care. ⋯ Online surveys delivered to patients with chronic pain detected unmet needs for depression and persisting high levels of pain interference after ED encounters. Adding mood-specific screening tools to pain assessments may be necessary in clinical settings to identify depression and refer for appropriate treatment.
-
As an emergency nurse, finding time to familiarize oneself with arterial-line monitoring or a new piece of equipment is often impossible. A group of staff nurses recognized the need for more "hands-on" learning and pursued a method to make our education more meaningful. A hospital general nursing skills day offered little benefit to ED nursing staff who are tasked with more specialized skills. It was imperative to develop an efficient process to prepare the ED nurses to provide best practice and care to their patients.